The Ground Remembers Sculpture

Kirk Hallam, once a modest agricultural parish, has transformed into a residential area defined by large housing estates along the main road leading to Spondon. It's difficult to imagine that in 1846, the village had only 18 houses and a population of 93. For many years, it remained largely unchanged, with its most substantial development occurring in the past 100 years, particularly after World War II.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the south side of the village saw the construction of public sector housing by Ilkeston Borough Council, as well as by Stanton and Staveley. The northern side, in contrast, developed with a mix of both public and private housing throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

A prominent feature of Kirk Hallam is All Saints Church, a Grade I listed building. While the current structure dates from the 14th century, it’s believed an earlier church stood on the same site. Over the centuries, the church has undergone various alterations, including the addition of a new chancel arch, a porch, buttresses, and the re-pewing of its interior.

At the foot of the church, along the same side of the road, lies the school built in 1872 by Francis William Newdigate. With the village’s small population, the school also served children from nearby areas such as Little Hallam and Mapperley. The building was expanded twice, but in 1963, the widening of Ladywood Road resulted in the loss of part of its front yard. As the population grew with the expansion of new housing estates, the school became increasingly inadequate. This led to the construction of two new schools: Ladywood School, located nearby, and Dallimore Primary, which was notable for its innovative design. Dallimore Primary had no assembly hall, school canteen, or traditional toilet block. Instead, it featured seven self-contained classrooms, each with dedicated spaces for teaching, play, and even a garden area, along with integrated toilet facilities.

Historically, industry played a minor role in Kirk Hallam’s development. The area briefly hosted a colliery and an ironstone pit. In the late 19th century, Ilkeston Town Council used water from the colliery to supplement its water supply. The ironstone pit, which is now Pioneer Meadows, was eventually owned by Stanton before coming under the stewardship of Erewash Borough Council.